Protect geraniums from thunderstorms: boards save your balcony planting

Created: 05/18/2022, 08:00

By: Joana Lück

Spring brings plenty of sunshine, but sudden thunderstorms not only ruin your plans, your plants also suffer.

Munich – Lightning, squalls and downpours – heavy thunderstorms are piling up, even in late spring.

So that your geraniums and other plants are not destroyed or begin to rot as a result of the wet, you should think about suitable protection.

Protect geraniums from thunderstorms: boards save your balcony planting

Thunderstorms and rain can cause geraniums to rot.

(Iconic image) © Stock&people/Imago

As soon as geraniums are outside in spring, the next danger looms in addition to frost: thunderstorms.

Since covers made of fleece or tarpaulins do not protect against hail or heavy rain, but rather act as additional weight on the filigree plants, foldable protection made of boards is a good idea.

Of course, it is ideal if your plants are on a covered balcony.

If you don't have one, you should mount hail protection over your geranium boxes.

Thats how it works:

• Measure the length of the balcony boxes and choose a wooden board with a thickness of at least one centimeter in the respective size.

  It is worth varnishing the boards before assembly so that they do not rot.

• Attach the wooden boards to your balcony using hinges.

• As soon as it rains heavily, you can unfold the boards.

• Alternatively, art glass plates that are hardly noticeable are also suitable.

However, the boards method is only possible for window boxes that are below the balcony.

Stable awnings have proven their worth with integrated flower boxes, as have robust parasols with a strong base that you pull over the flowers.

Other plants can also serve as protection against balcony plants.

For example, if you have a large tree on the property, it also serves as protection against wind and rain for smaller plants.

Protecting geraniums from thunderstorms: Weatherproof plants

It is worth considering whether you keep your geraniums and other sensitive plants in tubs or pots, because they are mobile and can be moved as soon as a thunderstorm with heavy rain is announced.

If it is too late, you should follow these tips with which you can still save the plants after the storm.

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If you choose rainproof plants such as fuchsias or bluebells from the start, you avoid the problem.

Hanging geraniums can also cope with rain, because the small flowers defy rain and are therefore a popular balcony plant.